Fungicidal mixtures

ABSTRACT

A fungicidal mixture comprises 
     a.1) a carbamate of the formula I.a,                    
     in which X is CH or N, n is 0, 1 or 2 and R is halogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl or C 1 -C 4 -haloalkyl, it being possible for the radicals R to be different if n is 2, or 
     a.2) the oxime ether carboxamide of the formula I.b                    
      and 
     b.1) 4-[2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propyl]-2,6-dimethylmorpholine                    
      or 
     b.2) 4-(C 10 -C 13 -alkyl)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine                    
      or 
     b.3) (RS)-1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]piperidine                    
      and 
     c) a further active ingredient from the class of the strobilurin fungicides (III), 
     in a synergistically effective amount.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP98/032 86, filed Jun. 02, 1998.

The present invention relates to a fungicidal mixture which comprises

a.1) a carbamate of the formula I.a,

in which X is CH or N, n is 0, 1 or 2 and R is halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, it being possible for the radicals R to be different if n is 2, or

a.2)the oxime ether carboxamide of the formula I.b

 and

b.1) 4-[2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propyl]-2,6-dimethylmorpholine

 or

b.2) 4-(C₁₀-C₁₃-alkyl)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine

 or

b.3) (RS)-1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine

 and

c) a further active ingredient from the class of the strobilurin fungicides (III),

in a synergistically effective amount.

Particular preference is given to mixtures which comprise, as strobilurin fungicide (III), a

III.1 methyl phenylacetate of the formula III.1

in which U is CHOCH₃ or NOCH₃, R^(a) is cyano, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, x is 1, 2 or 3, it being possible for the radicals R^(a) to be different if x is 2 or 3, and Y is one of the radicals OCH₂ or O-(4,6-pyrimidinyl)-O, or a

III.1 benzyloxybisoxime of the formula III.2

 where:

A is OCH₃ or NHCH₃;

B is CHOCH₃ or NOCH₃;

R′ is phenyl which may carry one to three of the following substituents: cyano, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkylthio; or C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, C₁-C₆-alkylamino, di-C₁-C₆-alkylamino, C₁-C₆-haloalkyloxy, C₁-C₆-haloalkylthio, C₁-C₆-haloalkylamino, N—C₁-C₆-haloalkyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, C_(3-C) ₆-alkenyloxy, C₃-C₆-alkenylthio, C₃-C₆-alkenylamino, N—C₃-C₆-alkenyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, C₂-C₆-haloalkenyloxy, C₂-C₆-haloalkenylthio, C₂-C₆-haloalkenylamino, N—C₂-C₆-haloalkenyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, C₃-C₆-alkynyloxy, C₃-C₆-alkynylthio, C₃-C₆-alkynylamino, N—C₃-C₆-alkynyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, C₃-C₆-haloalkynyloxy, C₃-C₆-haloalkynylthio, C₃-C₆-haloalkynylamino, N—C₃-C₆-haloalkynyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl-methoxy, C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl-methylthio, C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl-methylamino, N—C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl-methyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, or benzyloxy, benzylthio, benzylamino, N-benzyl-N—C₁-C₄-alkylamino, it being possible for the phenyl groups to be partially or fully halogenated and/or to carry one to three of the following radicals: cyano, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkylthio.

Moreover, the invention relates to methods for controlling harmful fungi using mixtures of the compounds I (I.a and I.b), II (II.a to II.c) and III (III.1 and III.2).

The compounds of the formula I, their preparation and their activity against harmful fungi are disclosed in the literature (EP-A 477 631; WO-A 96/01,256; WO-A 96/01,258).

The compounds of the formula II are also disclosed:

II.a (common name: fenpropimorph): CAS RN [67564-91-4], U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,894;

II.b (common name: tridemorph): CAS RN [81412-43-3], DE-A 11 64 152;

II.c (common name: fenpropidin): CAS RN [67306-00-7], U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,894.

Furthermore, the strobilurin fungicides III are disclosed in the literature as active compounds for controlling harmful fungi:

oxime ether ester III.1: EP-A 253 213, EP-A 254 426 and EP-A 382 375;

benzyloxybisoximes of the formula III.2: WO-A 95/18,789, WO-A 95/21,153, WO-A 95/21,154 and DE P 195 28 651.0.

Synergistic mixtures of the compounds I.a with active compounds II.a to II.c are disclosed in the earlier application DE-A 19 616 724.

Furthermore, EP-A 645 087 discloses synergistic mixtures of the compound I.b with active compounds II.a to II.c.

It is an object of the present invention to provide mixtures which have an improved activity against harmful fungi combined with a reduced total amount of active ingredient applied (synergistic mixtures), with a view to reducing the application rates and to improving the activity spectrum of the known compounds I, II and III.

We have found that this object is achieved by the mixture defined at the outset. Moreover, we have found that better control of harmful fungi is possible by applying the compounds I, II and III simultaneously, that is either together or separately, or by applying the compounds I, II and III in succession than when the individual compounds are used.

The formula I.a in particular represents carbamates in which the combination of the substituents corresponds to a row of Table 1 below:

TABLE 1

I.a No. X R_(n) Ia.1 N 2-F Ia.2 N 3-F Ia.3 N 4-F Ia.4 N 2-Cl Ia.5 N 3-Cl Ia.6 N 4-Cl Ia.7 N 2-Br Ia.8 N 3-Br Ia.9 N 4-Br Ia.10 N 2-CH₃ Ia.11 N 3-CH₃ Ia.12 N 4-CH₃ Ia.13 N 2-CH₂CH₃ Ia.14 N 3-CH₂CH₃ Ia.15 N 4-CH₂CH₃ Ia.16 N 2-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.17 N 3-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.18 N 4-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.19 N 2-CF₃ Ia.20 N 3-CF₃ Ia.21 N 4-CF₃ Ia.22 N 2,4-F₂ Ia.23 N 2,4-Cl₂ Ia.24 N 3,4-Cl₂ Ia.25 N 2-Cl, 4-CH₃ Ia.26 N 3-Cl, 4-CH₃ Ia.27 CH 2-F Ia.28 CH 3-F Ia.29 CH 4-F Ia.30 CH 2-Cl Ia.31 CH 3-Cl Ia.32 CH 4-Cl Ia.33 CH 2-Br Ia.34 CH 3-Br Ia.35 CH 4-Br Ia.36 CH 2-CH₃ Ia.37 CH 3-CH₃ Ia.38 CH 4-CH₃ Ia.39 CH 2-CH₂CH₃ Ia.40 CH 3-CH₂CH₃ Ia.41 CH 4-CH₂CH₃ Ia.42 CH 2-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.43 CH 3-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.44 CH 4-CH(CH₃)₂ Ia.45 CH 2-CF₃ Ia.46 CH 3-CF₃ Ia.47 CH 4-CF₃ Ia.48 CH 2,4-F₂ Ia.49 CH 2,4-Cl₂ Ia.50 CH 3,4-Cl₂ Ia.51 CH 2-Cl, 4-CH₃ Ia.52 CH 3-Cl, 4-CH₃

Particular preference is given to the compounds Ia.12, Ia.23, Ia.32 and Ia.38.

The formula III.1 in particular represents methyl phenylacetates in which the combination of the substituents corresponds to a row of Table 2 below:

TABLE 2

III.1 No. U Y R^(a) _(x) III-1.1 NOCH₃ OCH₂ 2-CH₃ III-1.2 NOCH₃ OCH₂ 2,5-(CH₃)₂ III-1.3 NOCH₃ OCH₂ 2-Cl III-1.4 NOCH₃ OCH₂ 2-Cl, 5-CH₃ III-1.5 NOCH₃ OCH₂ 5-Cl, 2-CH₃ III-1.6 CHOCH₃ O-[4,6-pyrimi- 2-CN dinediyl]-O III-1.7 CHOCH₃ O-(4,6-pyrimi- 3-CN dinediyl]-O III-1.8 CHOCH₃ O-(4,6-pyrimi- 4-CN dinediyl]-O

Particular preference is given to the compounds III-1.1 and III-1.6.

The formula III.2 in particular represents benzyloxybisoximes in which the combination of the substituents corresponds to one row of Table 3 below:

No. A B R′ III-2.1 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ C₆H₅ III-2.2 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ 4-F—C₆H₄ III-2.3 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ 4-Cl—C₆H₄ III-2.4 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ 4-Br—C₆H₄ III-2.5 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ 4-I—C₆H₄ III-2.6 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.7 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)₂ III-2.8 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.9 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ III-2.10 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ III-2.11 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O—C(CH₃)₃ III-2.12 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ S—C(CH₃)₃ III-2.13 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.14 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂C(CH₃)₃ III-2.15 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂C(Cl)═CCl₂ III-2.16 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂CH═CH-Cl (trans) III-2.17 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂-C(CH₃)═CH₂ III-2.18 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂-(cyclopropyl) III-2.19 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂-C₆H₅ III-2.20 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂-[4-F—C₆H₄] III-2.21 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₃ III-2.22 NHCH₃ NOCH₃ O-CH(CH₂CH₃)₂ III-2.23 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.24 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)₂ III-2.25 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.26 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ III-2.27 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ III-2.28 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O—C(CH₃)₃ III-2.29 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ S—C(CH₃)₃ III-2.30 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CH₃ III-2.31 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂C(CH₃)₃ III-2.32 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂C(Cl)═CCl₂ III-2.33 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂CH═CH-Cl (trans) III-2.34 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂-C(CH₃)═CH₂ III-2.35 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂-(cyclopropyl) III-2.36 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂-C₆H₅ III-2.37 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂-[4-F—C₆H₄] III-2.38 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH₂CH₃ III-2.39 OCH₃ CHOCH₃ O-CH(CH₂CH₃)₂

Particular preference is given to compounds III-2.1, III-2.2, III-2.3 and to those compounds III-2 in which R′ is C₁-C₆-alkoxy or is benzyloxy with or without substitution by halogen.

Owing to the basic character of their nitrogen atoms, the compounds I, II and III are capable of forming salts or adducts with inorganic or organic acids or with metal ions.

Examples of inorganic acids are hydrohalic acids such as hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and hydriodic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid.

Suitable organic acids are, for example, formic acid and alkanoic acids such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid and propionic acid, and also glycolic acid, thiocyanic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, oxalic acid, alkylsulfonic acids (sulfonic acids having straight-chain or branched alkyl radicals of 1 to 20 carbon atoms), arylsulfonic acids or aryldisulfonic acids (aromatic radicals such as phenyl and naphthyl, which carry one or two sulfo groups), alkylphosphonic acids (phosphonic acids having straight-chain or branched alkyl radicals of 1 to 20 carbon atoms), arylphosphonic acids or aryldiphosphonic acids (aromatic radicals such as phenyl and naphthyl, which carry one or two phosphonic acid radicals), it being possible for the alkyl or aryl radicals to carry further substituents, eg. p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, p-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, etc.

Suitable metal ions are, in particular, the ions of the elements of the first to eighth sub-groups, in particular chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and furthermore of the second main group, in particular calcium and magnesium, and of the third and fourth main groups, in particular aluminum, tin and lead. The metals can exist in the various valencies which they can assume.

When preparing the mixtures, it is preferred to employ the pure active ingredients I, II and III, to which further active ingredients against harmful fungi or other pests, such as insects, arachnids or nematodes, or else herbicidal or growth-regulating active ingredients or fertilizers can be admixed.

The mixtures of the compounds I, II and III, or the compounds I, II and III applied simultaneously, either together or separately, exhibit outstanding activity against a wide range of phytopathogenic fungi, in particular from the classes of the Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Phycomycetes and Deuteromycetes. Some of them act systemically and can therefore be employed as foliar- and soil-acting fungicides.

They are especially important for controlling a large number of fungi in a variety of crop plants, such as cotton, vegetable species (e.g. cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, potatoes and cucurbits), barley, grass, oats, bananas, coffee, maize, fruit species, rice, rye, soya, grapevine, wheat, ornmentals, sugar cane, and a variety of seeds.

They are particularly suitable for controlling the following phytopathogenic fungi: Erysiphe graminis (powdery mildew) in cereals, Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea in cucurbits, Podosphaera leucotricha in apples, Uncinula necator in grapevines, Puccinia species in cereals, Rhizoctonia species in cotton, rice and lawns, Ustilago species in cereals and sugar cane, Venturia inaequalis (scab) in apples, Helminthosporium species in cereals, Septoria nodorum in wheat, Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) in strawberries, vegetables, ornamentals and grapevines, Cercospora arachidicola in groundnuts, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides in wheat and barley, Pyricularia oryzae in rice, Phytophthora infestans in potatoes and tomatoes, Plasmopara viticola in grapevines, Pseudoperonospora species in hops and cucumbers, Alternaria species in vegetables and fruit, Mycosphaerella species in bananas and Fusarium and Verticillium species.

Furthermore they can be used in the protection of materials (eg. in the protection of wood), for example against Paecilomyces variotii.

The compounds I, II and III can be applied simultaneously, that is either together or separately, or in succession, the sequence, in the case of separate application, generally not having any effect on the result of the control measures.

The compounds I and II are usually used in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 0.01:1, preferably 5:1 to 0.05:1, in particular 1:1 to 0.05:1.

The compounds I and III are usually used in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 0.01:1, preferably 5:1 to 0.05:1, in particular 1:1 to 0.05:1.

Depending on the kind of effect desired, the application rates of the mixtures according to the invention are, in particular in agricultural crops, from 0.01 to 8 kg/ha, preferably 0.1 to 5 kg/ha, in particular 0.2 to 3.0 kg/ha.

The application rates of the compounds I are from 0.01 to 2.5 kg/ha, preferably 0.05 to 2.5 kg/ha, in particular 0.1 to 1.0 kg/ha.

Correspondingly, in the case of the compounds II, the application rates are from 0.01 to 10 kg/ha, preferably 0.05 to 5 kg/ha, in particular 0.05 to 2.0 kg/ha.

Correspondingly, in the case of the compounds III, the application rates are from 0 01 to 10 kg/ha, preferably 0.05 to 5 kg/ha, in particular 0.05 to 2.0 kg/ha.

For seed treatment, the application rates of the mixture are generally from 0.001 to 250 g/kg of seed, preferably 0.01 to 100 g/kg, in particular 0.01 to 50 g/kg.

If phytopathogenic harmful fungi are to be controlled, the separate or joint application of the compounds I, II and III, or of the mixtures of the compounds I, II, and III is effected by spraying of dusting the seeds, the plants or the soils before or after sowing of the plants, or before or after plant emergence.

The fungicidal synergistic mixtures according to the invention, or the compounds I, II, and III, can be formulated for example in the form of ready-to-spray solutions, powers and suspensions or in the form of highly concentrated aqueous, oily or other suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, materials for broadcasting or granules, and applies by spraying, atomizing, dusting, broadcasting or watering. The use form depends on the intended purpose; in any case, it should ensure as fine and uniform as possible a distribution of the mixture according to the invention.

The formulations are prepared in a manner known per se, eg. by adding solvents and/or carriers. It is usual to admix inert additives, such as emulsifiers or dispersants, with the formulations.

Suitable surfactants are the alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, eg. ligno-, phenol-, naphthalene- and dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, and of fatty acids, alkyl- and alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl, lauryl ether and fatty alcohol sulfates, and salts of sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanols, or of fatty alcohol glycol ethers, condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and derivatives thereof with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of the naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctyl-, octyl- or nonylphenol, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ethers, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, isotridecyl alcohol, fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers or polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetate, sorbitol esters, lignosulfite waste liquors or methylcellulose.

Powders, materials for spreading and dusts can be prepared by mixing or jointly grinding the compounds I, II or III or the mixture of the compounds I, II and III with a solid carrier.

Granules (eg. coated granules, impregnated granules or homogeneous granules) are usually prepared by binding the active ingredient, or the active ingredients, to a solid carrier.

Fillers or solid carriers are, for example, mineral earths such as silicas, silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, and fertilizers such ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate and ureas, and products of vegetable origin such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders or other solid carriers.

The formulations generally comprise from 0.1 to 95% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 90% by weight, of one of the compounds I, II, or III or of the mixture of the compounds I, II, and II. The active ingredients are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum or HPLC).

The compounds I, II or III, or the mixtures, or the corresponding formulations, are applied by treating the harmful fungi, their habitat, or the plants, seeds, soils, areas, materials or spaces to be kept free from them, with a fungicidally effective amount of the mixture, or of the compounds I, II and III in the case of separate application. Application can be effected before or after infection by the fungi.

USE EXAMPLES

The synergistic activity of the mixtures according to the invention was demonstrated by the following experiments:

A) Activity Against Powdery Mildew of Wheat

Leaves of potted wheat seedlings of the variety “Frühgold” were sprayed to runoff point with an aqueous formulation of active ingredient prepared from a stock solution consisting of 10% of active ingredient, 63% of cyclohexanone and 27% of emulsifier. 24 hours after the spray coating had dried on, the leaves were dusted with spores of powdery mildew of wheat (Erysiphe graminis forma specialis tritici). The test plants were subsequently kept in a greenhouse at 20-24° C. and 60-90% relative atmospheric humidity. After 7 days, the extent of the mildew development was determined visually in % infection of the total leaf area.

Evaluation was carried out by determining the affected leaf areas in percent. These percentages were converted into efficacies. The efficacy (E) was calculated as follows using Abbot's formula:

E=(1−α)·100/β

α corresponds to the fungal infection of the treated plants in % and

β corresponds to the fungal infection of the untreated (control) plants in %

An efficacy of 0 means that the infection level of the treated plants corresponds to that of the untreated control plants; an efficacy of 100 means that the treated plants were not infected.

The expected efficacies of the mixtures of the active ingredients were determined using Colby's formula [R. S. Colby, Weeds 15, 20-22 (1967)] and compared with the observed efficacies.

Colby's formula

E=x+y+z−x·y·z /100

E expected efficacy, expressed in % of the untreated control, when using the mixture of the active ingredients A, B and C at the concentrations a, b and c

x efficacy, expressed in % of the untreated control, when using active ingredient A at a concentration of a

y efficacy, expressed in % of the untreated control, when using active ingredient B at a concentration of b

z efficacy, expressed in % of the untreated control, when using active ingredient C at a concentration of c

The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5 below.

TABLE 4 Efficacy in Concentration of active % of the Active ingredient ingredient in the spray untreated Ex. or mixture liquor in ppm control 1C Control (untreated) (97% infection) 0 2C I/1 (Compound Ia.32 1.25 0 from Tab. 1) 0.31 0 3C I/2 (Compound Ia.38 1.25 0 from Tab. 1) 0.31 0 4C Mixture of IIa + 1.25 IIa + 1.25 III.1-6 0 III.1-6 5C Mixture of IIa + 0.31 IIa + 0.31 III.1-6 0 III.1-6 6C Mixture of IIa + 0.31 IIa + 0.31 III.1-1 69 III.1-1 7C Mixture of IIb + 0.31 IIb + 0.31 III.1-6 7 III.1-6 8C Mixture of IIb + 0.31 IIb + 0.31 III.1-1 79 III.1-1

TABLE 5 Mixture according to Observed Calculated Ex. the invention efficacy efficacy*) 9 1.25 ppm I/1 + 49 0 1.25 ppm IIa + 1.25 ppm III.1-6 10 0.31 ppm I/1 + 30 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 11 1.25 ppm I/2 + 49 0 1.25 ppm IIa + 1.25 ppm III.1-6 12 0.31 ppm I/2 + 27 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 13 0.31 ppm I/1 + 95 69 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 14 0.31 ppm I/1 + 28 7 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 15 0.31 ppm I/1 + 95 79 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 *)calculated using Colby's formula

The test results show that the observed efficacy in all mixing ratios is higher than the efficacy which had been calculated beforehand using Colby's formula.

B) Curative Activity Against Puccinia Recondita on Wheat (Wheat Leaf Rust)

Leaves of potted wheat seedlings of the variety “Frühgold” were dusted with spores of leaf rust (Puccinia recondita). Thereafter, the pots were kept for 24 hours in a chamber of high atmospheric humidity (90 to 95%) and 20 to 22° C. During this time, the spores germinated and the germinal tubes penetrated into the leaf tissue. The next day, the infected plants were sprayed to runoff point with an aqueous formulation of active ingredient prepared from a stock solution consisting of 10% of active ingredient, 63% of cyclohexanone and 27% of emulsifier. After the spray coating had dried on, the test plants were cultivated in a greenhouse at from 20 to 22° C. and from 65 to 70% of relative atmospheric humidity for 7 days. Thereafter, the extent of rust fungus development on the leaves was determined visually.

The visually determined percentages of infected leaf areas were converted into efficacies as % of the untreated control. An efficacy of 0 means the same disease level as in the untreated control, an efficacy of 100 means a disease level of 0%. The expected efficacies for active compound combinations were determined using Colby's formula (Colby, S. R.: “Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide Combinations”, Weeds 15, p. 20-22, 1967) as described for Examples 1-15 and compared to the observed efficacies.

The test results are shown in Tables 6 and 7 below.

TABLE 6 Concentration of Efficacy active ingredient in % of the Active ingredient in the spray untreated Ex. or binary mixture liquor in ppm control 16C Control (untreated) (93% infection) 0 17C Compound I/1 1.25 47 (cf. Ex. 2C) 0.31 0 18C Compound I/2 0.31 0 (cf. Ex. 3C) 19C Compound Ib 0.31 0 20C Mixture of IIa + III.1-6 0.31 IIa + 0 0.31 III.1-6 21C Mixture of IIa + III.1-1 0.31 IIa + 0 0.31 III.1-1 22C Mixture of IIb + III.1-6 0.31 IIb + 4 0.31 III.1-6 23C Mixture of IIb + III.2-7 1.25 IIb + 4 1.25 III.2-7 24C Mixture of IIb + III.2-7 0.31 IIb + 0 0.31 III.2-7 25C Mixture of IIb + III.1-1 0.31 IIb + 0 0.31 III.1-1

TABLE 7 Mixture according to Observed Calculated Ex. the invention efficacy efficacy*) 26 0.31 ppm I/1 + 95 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 27 0.31 ppm I/2 + 89 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 28 0.31 ppm Ib + 95 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 29 0.31 ppm I/1 + 35 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 30 0.31 ppm I/2 + 68 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 31 0.31 ppm Ib + 35 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 32 0.31 ppm I/1 + 95 4 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 33 0.31 ppm I/2 + 95 4 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 34 0.31 ppm Ib + 93 4 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-6 35 0.31 ppm I/1 + 93 49 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.2-7 36 0.31 ppm I/1 + 40 0 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.2-7 37 0.31 ppm Ib + 30 0 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.2-7 38 0.31 ppm I/1 + 40 0 0.31 ppm IIa + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 39 0.31 ppm I/2 + 35 0 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 40 0.31 ppm Ib + 40 0 0.31 ppm IIb + 0.31 ppm III.1-1 *)calculated using Colby's formula

The test results show that the observed efficacy in all mixing ratios is higher than the efficacy which had been calculated beforehand using Colby's formula. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fungicidal composition comprising synergistically effective amounts of a) a first active component I selected from the group of a.1)carbamates of formula I.a,

wherein X is CH or N, n is 0, 1 or 2, R is halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, and the radicals R are identical or different when n is 2, and salts and adducts thereof, and a.2) the oxime ether carboxamide of the formula I.b

 and b) a second active component II selected from the group of b.1)4-[2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propyl]-2,6-dimethylmorpholine

b.2) 4-(C₁₀-C₁₃-alkyl)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine

 and b.3)(RS)-1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine

 and c) a third active component (III) selected from the group of methyl phenylacetates of formula III.1

wherein U is CHOCH₃ or NOCH₃, R^(a) is cyano, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, x is 1, 2 or 3, and the radicals R^(a) are identical or different when x is 2 or 3, and Y is OCH₂ or O-(4,6-pyrimidinyl)-O.
 2. The composition defined in claim 1, wherein the component I and the component II are present in a weight ratio of from 10:1 to 0.01:1.
 3. The composition defined in claim 1, wherein the component I and the component III are present in a weight ratio of from 10:1 to 0.01:1.
 4. The composition defined in claim 1 which is conditioned in two parts, a first part comprising component I in a solid or liquid carrier, and a second part comprising component II in a solid or liquid carrier, and the first or the second part additionally comprising component III.
 5. The composition defined in claim 1 which is conditioned in three parts, a first part comprising component I in a solid or liquid carrier, a second part comprising component II in a solid or liquid carrier and a third part comprising component III in a solid or liquid carrier.
 6. A method of controlling harmful fungi, which comprises treating the harmful fungi, their habitat, or plants, seeds, soils, areas, materials or spaces to be kept free from said fungi with synergistically effective amounts of components I, II and III as set forth in claim
 1. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein components I, II and III are applied simultaneously, that is either together or separately, or in succession.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein component I is applied in an amount of from 0.01 to 2.5 kg/ha.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein component II is applied in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 kg/ha.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein component III is applied in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 kg/ha. 